Water wheel



Dec. 28 ,1926. 1,612,025

J. JANKows'Kl WATER WHEEL Flgd Jan. 8, 1926 fr u l u f f n n l a f f f l Q- P, l. l--f- I VENTO@ V H J man v BY ' Arron/avia Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

N l T E JULIJ'AN JANKOW'SKI,

WATER Application filed January This invention relates to an improvement in water wheels comprehending particularly a submerged wheel-like structure provided with movable gates automatically controlled to cause the current ofthe stream to automatically rotate the wheel and thereby generate the power which may be utilized at a more or less remote distance.

The invention comprises a skeleton structure mounted upon a suitably supported vertical shaft, with such structure including spaced upper and lower radiating bars. A gate is pivotally connected between each pair of vertically aligned bars and adapted when in contact with such bars to bridge the space between them and provide a surface against which the current acts to rotate the wheel as a who-le. rlhe gates are also connected with the adjacent set of bars through the medium of links which so control the movement of the gates in moving from the operative position as the wheel is rotated as to cause said gates to assume a second position which is in effect transverse the current of the stream and so disposed with relationto the water wheel as a whole as to utilize the power of the stream on the water wheel. Thus by the arrangement of the links, the gates are subjected twice in each rotation of the wheel to the operative effect of the current, and are also held or arranged as the wheel continues to rotate to cause said current to have a further operative effect on the wheel. Thus the gates by the particular arrangement of links are caused to be directly affected by the current of the stream in each. of two distinct positions of the wheel, and to be partly affected by the current of the stream in other positions of the wheel. The power of the stream on the wheel is therefore materially increased in effect over the usual construction in which the gate acts to receive the current strength in substantially but one position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan showing the improved water wheel mounted in a stream.

Fig. 2 is a section of the water wheel'on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

The improved water wheel includes a shaft 1, which is adapted to be mounted in a stream of water indicated at A, through suitable upper and lower bearings 3 and 4 to permit free rotation of the shaft. Keyed at appropriate heights on the shaft are centers on KiaAivrsK, POLAND.

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s, i926. serial No. 80,088. f

5 and 6, fromwliich radiate arms 7 and 8. The arms are inappropriate number and length for the desired result and are of course disposed in 'vertically aligned pairs, as indicated in Fig.V 2. For each pair of arms there is provided a gate 9, comprising a solid 'section of any appropriate material, one edge of which is provided with oppositely disposed pivot pins 10 adapted to pass 65 through openings 11 in the terminals of each aligned pair of arms, whereby the gate may swing freely with respect to the arms. The vertical dimension of the gate substantially equals the distance between the rela tive remote surfaces ofthe pair of arms, so that when the gate is turned to restin contact with the arms, it will close the space between them throughout the length of the gate. otally connected at 12 a. link 13, said links being formed for the greater portion of their lengths with elongated or slotted openings 14. The free ends of the links from To the free end of each arm is pivone pair of arms extend to and are connected to the upper and lower edges of the gate 9 of the adjacent pair of arms, the connection between the gate and links vbeing through the medium of a member 15, which is freely slidable in the elongated opening 14 of the S5 links.

1t is to be understood, 'as illustrated in Fig. 2, that the water wheel is to be wholly submerged in the water of the stream, and that the shaft 1y extends above the stream and may be connected in any suitable way to utilize the power of the stream on the water wheel for any desired purpose. For example, the frame supporting the water wheel in the stream may include a cross bar 16, which supports the upper bearing 3 of the shaft 1. lmmediately above this cross bar, the shaft may be provided with a relatively fixed bevel gear 17 adapted to operate a shaft 18 through the medium of a co-acting bevel pinion 19. The shaft 18 may be supported on the cross bar 16, and the end of the'shaft 18 beyond the stream may be connected in any desired manner for utilizing the power of the shaft for work.

Assuming the wheel located in the stream and the current flowing in the direction of the arrows A of Fig. 1 and the water wheell turning in the direction of the arrow B of Fig. 1, it will be seen that the pair of arms first encountered by the stream is aligned directly with the flow of the current and that the gate 9 of this pair of arms is in contact with the arms in line with the current and that the latter is without effect on 'the wheel so far as this particular gate is concerned. In the next position, indicated at the right, the gate still in contact with the arms is subjected to some extent to the power ot the current, being disposed at an angle thereto. In the next position, the gate is at right angles to the direction of the ourrent and the full force of the latter is exerted upon the gate. In the next position, the gate is arranged substantially as in the seeond position except at the reverse angle, and the current still is effective in turning the wheel. In the next position, the gate, as the arms turn to a position in direct alignment with the current, is swung away from the arms but is limited by the links as shown, so that here also the gate is arranged substantially across the stream and subjected substantially to the full power of the current. As the wheel continues its movement, the particular arm being followed now returning on the other side, it will be noted that the links in the irst position so control the gate that it is arranged atl an angle to the flow ot the current in a manner to utilize in part the current strength to turn the wheel. In the succeeding positions, the gate is brought into substantial alignment with the flow of the current and is without appreciable effect on the wheel.

Therefore by the use of the links arranged as described, it is ,noted that substantially the full power of the current is directed against the gate to turn the wheel in two successive positions of the wheel, and that in other positions, the links serve to hold the gates at an angle to the tlow of the current and in a direction to permit the power of the current to be utilized in turning the wheel. By this arrangement, the power of the wheel as a result of the flow of the current is materially greater than in ordinary eathering gate wheels of this type, it being apparent from Fig. l of the drawings that the gates are ot less length than the similar dimensionsl ot' the arms, so that there is unobstructed current flow at the central portion of the wheel, in order to utilize the second transverse position of the gate.

lt is of course to be understood that the wheel as a whole may be constructed in any desired size and of any appropriate materia-l.

li claim:

A submerged water wheel having fixed radiating arms arranged in pairs, gates pivotally supported at the free ends ot the arms and capable of swinging in all directions around said free ends, the ends having a height exceeding the spaces between the arms to utilize the arms as an abutment for the limit position of the gates to receive the current pressure for operating the wheel, links pivotally supported at; the tree ends of the arms and having a length exceeding the similar dimensions of the gates,V said links being slotted to slidably cooperate with and guide the free ends of the gates, the links connected to any one pair of arms being pivotally supported from they next following pair ot arms in a direction of rotation oi' the wheel, the arrangement of the links and gates forming each gate to bear against the arms to which it is connected to receive the current pressure and to hold it wholly beyond said arms and at an angle thereto, t0 provide a further abutment position to receive the current pressure.

ln testimony whereof l aiiii; my signature.

[1.. .ai JULIJAN JaNKowsKr. 

